Arnauts. See [ALBANIANS].
Aryans. The most important family of Caucasic Man, to which all the chief civilisations of modern times belong. A tall, fair-skinned, long-headed race, whose origin is still doubtful—though it was probably in Central Asia—and who spread in prehistoric times over the whole of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. Almost all modern Europeans are of Aryan descent. The family is also called INDO-EUROPEAN or INDO-GERMANIC, but these names are open to objections from which the term Aryan is free.
Ashantis. See [TSHI].
Assamese. Natives of Assam, between India and Burma, belonging to the Hindu stock of the Aryan family.
Assinaboins. See [SIOUAN].
Assyrians. One of the main branches of the Semitic family. The Assyrians founded a great empire in the northern part of Mesopotamia, of which Nineveh was the capital, and afterwards conquered the older Babylonian state (710 B.C.) and Egypt (671 B.C.), thus forming the first world-empire known to history. Within a century Assyria had become a Median province, and its people ceased to have an independent existence.
Athabascan or Tinney. A group of North American Indian tribes, formerly inhabiting Alaska and the greatest part of Canada. It includes the Apaches, Chippewayans, Hupas, Kutchins, Navajos, Tacullis, and Umbquas.
Athenians. The most important race of ancient Greece, whose city of Athens was the earliest centre of civilisation in the historical age of Europe.
Australians. The aborigines of Australia, a branch of the Oceanic Negro family. Their numerous tribes present a general uniformity of physical and mental development, under which two main types may be recognised. The earlier of these is probably that shown by the extinct [Tasmanians] (q.v.), one of the lowest races in point of culture yet discovered, who were probably still in the earliest stage of the Stone Age. The other type was perhaps akin to the Dravidians of India, or to a very low Caucasic race. The Australians are among the lowest of savage races, and present many features which have thrown light on the manners, customs and beliefs of primitive man.
Australians. White inhabitants of Australia, mostly of Anglo-Saxon descent.